I was fortunate enough to get to see the musical "Wicked" which is based on the book of the same name by Gregory Maguire. I must say this was a most clever telling of the "real" story of the Wicked Witch of the West. A line would be delivered and I would think, "Oh how very clever." I haven't read the book,although it is next to my night stand but unfortunately, it falls behind the the very thick book "Gone to Soldiers" by Marge Piercy.
Anyway, here is what I have to say...Yes "Wicked" was well fabulously wicked. The music was outstanding, special effects marvelous, vocals topnotch, acting superb...but what I didn't know until I saw the play was that it was all about the dangers of rumours, lies, misinformation and greed. "Wicked" has an amazing message. Turns this musical really nails it, our words have tremendous power and when you say something about someone or repeat something about someone you better make darn well you have your information strait, because words my friends have power. Yes, that's right your little rumour or lie or the casual way you talk about other people can cause pain, suffering, hard feelings or actually ruin a persons life.
A couple of other wonderful books about spreading rumours and the damage it can cause include "The Ladies Auxiliary" by Tova Mirvis and "Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
'all about love: new visions' by bell hooks
Susan here...
Our adult book and film series, 'What's Love Got to Do with It?', is in its second month and we will be discussing this book next Tuesday, August 24th, at 7:00 here at the library.
Alan and I have been reading it aloud as we traveled to New York for a long weekend. It was kind of a strange title to be reading (aloud, no less) in trains, airplanes and airports!
This is the second time I've read the first few chapters. I really appreciate how Ms. hooks (she chooses to not capitalize) looks at our culture and our definitions of love and both lack of love and manifestations of love. For such an important topic, we surely don't think very deeply about it, discuss it much, or even analyze it as a force in the culture. Much of what she says seems simply statement of fact, while others of her ideas are entirely new to me. It feels like a REALLY important topic and this book a good way to begin the discussion...
More when I actually finish the book...
Our adult book and film series, 'What's Love Got to Do with It?', is in its second month and we will be discussing this book next Tuesday, August 24th, at 7:00 here at the library.
Alan and I have been reading it aloud as we traveled to New York for a long weekend. It was kind of a strange title to be reading (aloud, no less) in trains, airplanes and airports!
This is the second time I've read the first few chapters. I really appreciate how Ms. hooks (she chooses to not capitalize) looks at our culture and our definitions of love and both lack of love and manifestations of love. For such an important topic, we surely don't think very deeply about it, discuss it much, or even analyze it as a force in the culture. Much of what she says seems simply statement of fact, while others of her ideas are entirely new to me. It feels like a REALLY important topic and this book a good way to begin the discussion...
More when I actually finish the book...
'Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging and the Crosscut Saw"
Susan here...
'Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging and the Crosscut Saw' is by Ana Maria Spagna. It was given to me several years ago by a friend who is a friend of the author. The book is a series of essays/chapters centered around working for the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service and living in a remote area in Washington state. Since I also worked for both agencies in the same area, it was a pleasing stimulator of memories and refreshed my interest in the issues federal employees in those agencies encounter. I even knew some of the people she talked about in the book so that was really fun for me. I chose to read it on a trip back to the area which was a great choice as I love to read about the areas I am traveling in...
The book is well-written and I appreciated Ms. Spagna's self-awareness and emotional honesty. I think people who haven't lived the life a seasonally employed park ranger would gain insight into the facts and the feel of such a lifestyle. She also writes at length about building a home from scratch and how much work it truly is, reflecting on community and place in thought provoking ways.
'Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging and the Crosscut Saw' is by Ana Maria Spagna. It was given to me several years ago by a friend who is a friend of the author. The book is a series of essays/chapters centered around working for the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service and living in a remote area in Washington state. Since I also worked for both agencies in the same area, it was a pleasing stimulator of memories and refreshed my interest in the issues federal employees in those agencies encounter. I even knew some of the people she talked about in the book so that was really fun for me. I chose to read it on a trip back to the area which was a great choice as I love to read about the areas I am traveling in...
The book is well-written and I appreciated Ms. Spagna's self-awareness and emotional honesty. I think people who haven't lived the life a seasonally employed park ranger would gain insight into the facts and the feel of such a lifestyle. She also writes at length about building a home from scratch and how much work it truly is, reflecting on community and place in thought provoking ways.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Field trip wrap up
The trip to the Walker Art Center was fabulous, only regret was that we didn't have enough time. Next time we will plan to spend the entire day. It seemed like everyone in our group was inspired to come home and create.
The Quang was delicious, and Daniel the owner is the kindest most generous person ever. If you are in Minneapolis please consider eating at the Quang.
Our bus driver was Steve Holte from Key Ministries and he too is top notch. What a great man and fabulous service. Steve's bus company is based out of Glenwood, if you are looking for a charter bus please consider steve.
Check out the library's web page or facebook book fan page for more information and photos. www.walkerart.org
www.quangrestaurant.com
The Quang was delicious, and Daniel the owner is the kindest most generous person ever. If you are in Minneapolis please consider eating at the Quang.
Our bus driver was Steve Holte from Key Ministries and he too is top notch. What a great man and fabulous service. Steve's bus company is based out of Glenwood, if you are looking for a charter bus please consider steve.
Check out the library's web page or facebook book fan page for more information and photos. www.walkerart.org
www.quangrestaurant.com
Friday, August 13, 2010
Walker Art Center and the Quang Restaurant
Monday, August 9, 2010
Walker Art Museum
Next Tuesday the Zingleberry book group, which is for children grades three through six, will be taking a field trip the the Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis. We will also be eating at the Quang restaurant.
Here's the scoop; after reading "Julia Gilian and the Art of Knowing" by Alison McGhee the book group made paper mache masks (you'd have to read the book to know why). Then we were fortunate enough to have Alsion McGhee visit our library and spend some time with members of the Zingleberry book group, we also got to show her our paper mache projects. In the book "Julia Gilian and the Art of Knowing" the Quang restaurant is mentioned often along with their famous bubble tea so we decided we really needed to pay a visit. As luck would have it the Quang is normally closed on Tuesdays but will be opening that day just for our group.
We are visiting the Walker because our group is incredibly creative and wants to spend some time delving into assemblage art.
We will be using the book "How to be an Explorer of the World" next year as a part of our program so that we can be better observers of all that is around us.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
"Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Shakespear
Last month, the library's book club read was "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, at least that was what we were suppose to read. I was surprised by the number of people who wrinkled up their nose at the book or seemed taken a back at having to read it again. Seems many of us have read that little gem while in junior high and it must of scared a good lot of us to pieces, because some were unwilling to venture there again. I am not being totally fair here, over 30 copies of the book checked out to book club members and probably most people read the book or at least give it their best shot.
The thing about Shakespeare is; he's brilliant. I use the term the term "he" loosely here because let's face it Shakespeare may not have written all of those plays and sonnets alone, at least that's what some of the experts say. Where was I? Oh yes, Shakespeare was a genius, witty, deep, humerus, romantic, insightful, a great observer of the human condition. I would guess that most people who claim to, "Not like Shakespeare." have most likely not given the writings a fair shake or had the chance to really understand what was being said. When you get it, you really get it.
For all of those people who didn't finish or start "Romeo and Juliet" don't feel too terribly bad I didn't finish either. I did after all read it in the 9th grade.
What I really wanted to write about was the movie we watched last night for film club.
It was of course "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes and in my humble opinion a master piece. The cinematography is breath taking, keep in mind Baz Lurhmann also brought us "Moulin Rouge" (need I say more). In this film you can feel the angst, the heat, the sun beating down, the dirt in wounds. And, this young love is brilliantly conveyed by these two immensely talented actors. When they first meet eyes, through a fish aquarium, my heart skipped a beat (we are talking Leonardo here). Baz Luhrmann did a magnificent job moving "Romeo and Juliet" into a modern urban setting and masterfully keeping the original language. trust me it works.
The cinematographer,Donald McAlpine is clearly a genius and how often do we talk about cinematographers? Not often enough.
But here is my point, I watched this movie about four or five years ago with my kids and I thought it was a great movie then, but last night something hit me.
"Romeo and Juliet" isn't a love story it's a tragedy and while we all supposedly know that; a jolt of lightening hit me and I thought, this is an anti violence or anti hate story. This is a parable of sorts about the tragedy of hate and violence. It is the tale of the tragic loss of innocence in which no one gains a thing. While that has always been perfectly articulated in the text, it never totally hit me until last night.
You might want to watch this movie or maybe even read the book.
The thing about Shakespeare is; he's brilliant. I use the term the term "he" loosely here because let's face it Shakespeare may not have written all of those plays and sonnets alone, at least that's what some of the experts say. Where was I? Oh yes, Shakespeare was a genius, witty, deep, humerus, romantic, insightful, a great observer of the human condition. I would guess that most people who claim to, "Not like Shakespeare." have most likely not given the writings a fair shake or had the chance to really understand what was being said. When you get it, you really get it.
For all of those people who didn't finish or start "Romeo and Juliet" don't feel too terribly bad I didn't finish either. I did after all read it in the 9th grade.
What I really wanted to write about was the movie we watched last night for film club.
It was of course "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes and in my humble opinion a master piece. The cinematography is breath taking, keep in mind Baz Lurhmann also brought us "Moulin Rouge" (need I say more). In this film you can feel the angst, the heat, the sun beating down, the dirt in wounds. And, this young love is brilliantly conveyed by these two immensely talented actors. When they first meet eyes, through a fish aquarium, my heart skipped a beat (we are talking Leonardo here). Baz Luhrmann did a magnificent job moving "Romeo and Juliet" into a modern urban setting and masterfully keeping the original language. trust me it works.
The cinematographer,Donald McAlpine is clearly a genius and how often do we talk about cinematographers? Not often enough.
But here is my point, I watched this movie about four or five years ago with my kids and I thought it was a great movie then, but last night something hit me.
"Romeo and Juliet" isn't a love story it's a tragedy and while we all supposedly know that; a jolt of lightening hit me and I thought, this is an anti violence or anti hate story. This is a parable of sorts about the tragedy of hate and violence. It is the tale of the tragic loss of innocence in which no one gains a thing. While that has always been perfectly articulated in the text, it never totally hit me until last night.
You might want to watch this movie or maybe even read the book.
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